NEWS
PR campaign for asylum By Cam Lucadou-Wells A multi-council taskforce led by Greater Dandenong has hired a public advocacy PR firm to lobby against deep welfare cuts to community asylum seekers. Agenda Group will spearhead the campaign on behalf of the Local Government Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum. It is expected to be launched this month. The campaign's chief targets are the Federal Government's cuts to Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) payments and more
State Government support services for asylum seekers. About 300 asylum seekers in Victoria many of whom live in Greater Dandenong - have been recently cut from the SRSS program. They are at high risk of homelessness and poorer mental health. Up to 600 more in Victoria could be removed from SRSS payments by December. It removes them from their allowance which is just 89 per cent of a NewStart payment - but also access to trauma counselling and support services.
Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan said one of the tasks is to get more cutthrough with metropolitan newspapers, TV, radio and social media. He said there was little public awareness of the SRSS changes, and the impacts on asylumseekers in the community. Very few seemed to realise there were 2000 asylum seekers living in Greater Dandenong, waiting in limbo as to whether they'll be accepted as refugees or deported, Cr Kirwan noted. "Our own local newspapers have covered
the impact of the changes to the (SRSS) support very well but so far only limited state and national media coverage has occurred." A second wave of advocacy is expected to coincide with a Federal election - which is due anytime until May 2019. The mayoral taskforce consists of 12 Victorian councils - with five on the executive, including Greater Dandenong. Greater Dandenong is also secretariat for the taskforce; its mayor Youhorn Chea is the chairman.
Panadol jobs boost - Dandy makes a million every day Dandenong will be the home for making more than 1 million Panadol tablets a day, creating 85 local jobs. Aspen Australia won the landmark contract to supply Panadol products for Australia, South East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and New Zealand. It will undertake a major expansion of its Dandenong factory as a result. Aspen will produce about 485 million tab-
lets a year, and 6.7 million bottles and tubes of the paracetamol painkillers. Aspen Asia Pacific CEO Trevor Ziman said the contract required "significant capital investment and job creation". "(It) will consolidate the long-term future of Aspen's expanding manufacturing presence in Victoria." The State Government declared it had played a hand in Aspen winning the contract.
Trade and Investment Minister Philip Dalidakis announced the win while launching the Government's new Investing In Victoria strategy on 25 September. "This strategy is the result of thorough consultation across government and significant industry research - it will ensure that Victoria continues to adapt and thrive in a global economy," Mr Dalidakis said. "Announcements like this show that the
world's biggest companies are keen to come to Victoria and create jobs, and we're keen to have them here." The strategy identifies global investment markets to create local jobs, such as energy, health, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, digital technologies, tourism, agriculture, tertiary education, professional services, and retail and logistics.
Richo brings Grand Final fever to a nightmare day By Cam Lucadou-Wells AFL superstar and commentator Matthew Richardson perhaps faces the ultimate nightmare for a Tiger fan on Grand Final Day. A week after Collingwood knocked out Richmond from the premiership race, Richardson is booked in for a Grand Final Day Breakfast hosted by the Magpies. If only he knew beforehand. The man known as Richo shared grand tales and Grand Final predictions at a Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce charity lunch on 26 September. He graciously posed for photos and signed books, footballs and programs for a packed Southern Golf Club function room in Keysborough. The Chamber was hopeful of raising more than $13,000 at the lunch for charities Make A Wish Australia and the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation. That sum was nearly as much as Richardson earned in his first year at the Tigers in 1993. He played 14 games for $16,000 in his debut year. Signing up as a father-son recruit, he was put on a four-year contract on "ordinary coin". Players were part-time, and Richardson would sell insurance at MLC before driving to training at Punt Road. But most of his career, he prospered as the game turned professional. He told of some of his highlights such as his late tilt at the Brownlow Medal in 2008, and presenting the premiership cup last year. Richardson tipped that this year's cup would go to Collingwood - and perhaps surprisingly he wanted them to win. "They've almost based it on Richmond a little bit of last year - that high-octane, great pressure. "They've got a great system. Whenever someone gets injured, they're not relying on individual talent. They're just bringing in a player who plays a role." Captain Scott Pendlebury and 2018 All-Australian Steele Sidebottom were possible Norm Smith Medallists - for best on ground. The side also boasted a dangerous forward line full of goalkickers, and the best ruckman in the game, Brodie Grundy. Though their opponents West Coast Eagles couldn't be discounted in fine, high-marking conditions, he said. In that case, Jeremy McGovern would have to have a huge game down back. As everyone expects, Gold Coast gun forward Tom Lynch was a "done deal" for Richmond -which would unlock a welcome tweak to the Tigers' game plan next year. It wasn't announced yet, but you could lock it in "150 per cent", Richardson assured Tiger supporters. 2 STAR JOURNAL
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Matthew Richardson reflects on amusing highlights from his AFL career. 185751
Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Matthew Richardson and Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce vice-president Roy Sanderson. 185751 He conceded the free agency system enabling the Lynch deal wasn't perhaps fair. It wasn't initially envisaged that the minor premiers snared the best talent from one of the bottom clubs, he said. "(However) when Tom Lynch leaves from Gold Coast, he's not going to go to a team not in contention. "The good thing he hasn't gone for money. He could have got more from Hawthorn or Collingwood. "He'll be getting less money than when he was at the Gold Coast."
Monday, 1 October, 2018
Matthew Richardson and Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce vice-president Roy Sanderson. 185751
Greater Dandenong councillor Maria Sampey with an autograph from ''Richo''. 185751 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS dandenong.starcommunity.com.au